I've been nursing a really heinous head cold for most of this week.

(still worth kissing the sick boyfriend.)

Ew. I sound a little like a man, a little like Fran Drescher.

So sitting here sick on my couch, all I really want is: 

 my snuggly trailblazers blanket 

my even snugglier boyfriend 

a steamed apple cider from starbucks 

to be snuggled up somewhere like this: 

with a good book
and my super snuggly boyfriend

my favorite sweatpants 

a really comfy worn-in boyfriend-y sweater 

some french toast 

and hashbrowns smothered in cheese

oh, and did i mention, my super snuggly boyfriend? 

him, too. 

(being sick has left both of us mucho under-snuggled) 

(scary...or sicky...)

xoxox.

my stylin sister

My little sister is the cutest.

Seriously. It's no contest.

See? 'Aint she adorable?!!

Well this cute little girl lives 3,000 miles away from me.

And she has for a little more than 6 years now.

Still, we talk to each other every night before she goes to bed. 

And in a real display of sweetness -- she babysat for a whole day, saved her money and bought me this shirt:
 

because she knows how much I love Diet coke. 

Cutest little sister EVER.

xoxox.

new york part uno

Okay my friends, here's the first post about my vacation. 

I still haven't downloaded my pictures off my camera (I've been kinda preoccupied with car searching)...but these are from my momma's camera. 

So the first couple of days we headed down to New York to take in some of the tourist attractions and spend some time in the city. 

Here's a tiny view of the upper side of Manhattan from on top of the Empire State Building. 

I'm really glad we spent the moolah and went (virtually) to to the top. You can seriously see the whole city from the top of it. And we splurged for the nerdy little audio tour devices--which were so interesting. They described all the different views and things you were seeing from each point. It was fascinating.

Mikaela, me and Ben with Lady Liberty. 

We lined up super early (okay so it was like 10 am...but I was jet lagged still) to catch the ferry out to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. It's truly a spectacular sight. There are so many portions and pieces to the statue. And I love what it stands for. That people were so desperate to come and have a better life and when they saw this--they knew America was right there and they were being welcomed into the country. 

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Sen these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Mikaela, me, Dad and Mom on the ferry to Ellis Island. 

And dude it was 95+ degrees that day....I was DYIN. SO HOT.

After mom and I toured the facility and discovered all the things immigrants had to do, endure, and be to get into the US...we headed back downstairs because in the basement of Ellis Island they had a "Barbies of the World" exhibit -- and I HAD to participate.

Me at 30 Rock! 

This was one of the simplest yet most interesting points I saw. Rockefeller Plaza is pretty cool. It's where they put the big tree at Christmas, where NBC's studios are -- and I loved seeing where the Today show is filmed. Plus -- "I want to go to there."

and there's plenty more to come...

ruler for a day my something corporate soulmate

I've known Kristie for YEARS. Since she was 12, I think. She is one funny, crazy, lovely, creative, smart lady -- and she has great taste in music.

Kristie says:

Awesomeness. The 10 reasons I rule:
1. I have a fun, eclectic style.
2. I know all of the words to every Something Corporate song ever. Haha.
3. I'm funny! I never knew until my manfriend (a comedian) told me so!
4. I'm a stickler for spelling and grammar. My friends call me webster.
5. I have a fair Swedish complexion but my Italian genes help me to get super tan when I want to.
6. I'm a good writer. I have talent. It's taken a long time for me to be able to say that.
7. I have a chocolate addiction. I used to consider it a weakness. Now I think of it as a trait I have inherited from my amazing mother. :)
8. I make gorgeous wrapping paper out of beautiful magazine images. I give the prettiest presents on the block.
9. Sometimes when I'm tired, a little Boston accent comes out on accident.
10. I'm more than a Sales and Service Associate. I'm more than a student. I'm a lover, a survivor, and an artist, just to name a few.

Thanks for allowing me to do this. I really needed to realize how awesome I am again. Sometimes it's easy to forget.


If you wanna tell me why YOU RULE, I'll do it til everyone realizes how awesome they are. Just click on the cute little bear!

xoxox.

ruler for a day the red sox mama

I met my dear friend Ruth through her adorable husband Drew. Drew and I were in the same program at BYU and he's from Boston, too...so instant connection. THEN I met Ruth. I love this freaking lady. She's funny, smart, REALLY creative and artistic, determined, and one heck of a runner to boot. Plus she's gonna be a momma soon!! Yay new rex soxian!

Ruth said:

1. I am married to Drew Dowling , conosseur of all things New England and Red Sox.
2. I have the best job in the world...teaching art to high schoolers!
3. I ran a race every month for 13 months straight, including 2 half marathons.
4. I can rock curly AND straight hair.
5. I graduated BYU with one major in the time it took Anna to graduate with two :) (wait, I guess that would be why SHE rocks!)
6. I AM growing a little human being inside of me :)
7. I LOVE reading... and am almost always in the process of reading at least 3 books.
8. I have a cat that plays fetch.
9. Did I mention Drew Dowling? Best decision I ever made.
10. I'm half Chilean. That means, yes, I can understand my students who mutter spanish expletives under their breath :)


If you wanna tell me why YOU RULE, I'll do it til everyone realizes how awesome they are. Just click on the cute little bear!

awesomespice.

So I've sat here staring at this screen for several minutes ... not knowing what to say at all.

First, I cannot figure out why I'm still awake when I have to be up at 8:30 and got only 3 hours of sleep last night and worked and stayed up late, AGAIN.

My brain seriously needs to calm down and shut down.

It's still zip zip zipping.  

A LOT. 

Second, even though my brain is all aflutter .... my body is exhausted.

{I promise this won't all be about sleep.}

I keep yawning like a loon. A still awake loon.

My body says "Hey crazy lady, we're trying to tell you you're tired. NOW LISTEN."

Third, I need inspiration for how to cut my hair.

I'm officially getting it cut on Saturday {the first time in a YEAR}.

Now I'm trying to figure out if/how much of it to cut off and what shape I want.

Also, we all know I love blog giveaways done by my loving friends.

I think they're just completely great.

But I'm starting to believe I should only enter ones that have to do with hair products/accessories -- because they're the only ones I win.

And that's okay with me, I'm SO not complaining.

I DEFINITELY didn't complain when I won this little beauty:

"Pinkspice" made by Miss Lauren over at Busy Bee Lauren {check out her headband shop}.

Fifth -- I needed some more work wear {i.e. skirts} and I'm pretty IN LOVE with Old Navy's $15 skirt sale right now. But I accidentally returned the wrong one today (I needed to change some sizes like on the GIANT cardigan I bought) so I'm gonna have to go back and get that one. Yay for cute work clothes.

Sixth, I want spring/summer. NOW. I'm sick of gray skies and rain. I want pretty Oregon again.

Lastly, please please PLEASE check out this AMAZING video my friend Natalie's little sister posted on her Facebook this week. Makes me SO happy. It's epic.

sigh. oh disney princesses. oh mean girls. oh GENIUS.

Happy Friday! Happy Weekend!
{Happy My Haircut, Room Clean, Crafting, Happiness weekend!!}
xoxo.

winner, winner, blog friends should come to dinner!

So...I have 51 followers!

How/when did that happen!?!

It's AWESOME. 

And only a portion of you know me in real life ... and for that I am sorry!

{I keed ... I keed.}

I'm actually sorry I don't know you all of you in real life.

You seem are awesome.

I can tell.

So, because we don't get to see each other all the time ... I'm gonna do something fun. 

ASK ME ANYTHING.

Seriously. Anything.

{within reason -- no social security #s my friends, sorry.} 

And I will answer it.

All you non-commenters and lurkers -- come on out. 

I wanna get to know you!

And I want you got get to know me!
But friends, don't be shy, feel free to ask away, too! 

So, ask away my dears.

And I will answer!

xoxox.

circle of salt to protect from zombies, witches, and old boyfriends...

Okay, I'm a bad blogger friend.
Seriously, life has been so crazy go nuts that by the time I get home the last thing I want to do is look at a computer.

Work is work.
That's all I can safely say here for now.


As far as that whole tutu thing -- I had a bunch of questions asking how/why/what I'm gonna be for Halloween.
Well, friends, Halloween is, like, my favorite (non-traditional) holiday.
You get to dress up as whatever you'd like and people give you FREE candy!! Where's the bad in this whole situation?
Anyway, in the past I've always been something cutesy or just fun for Halloween. I've never been anything even a touch morbid. I've been a princess (a thousand times), a cheerleader, a construction worker, a witch, a pirate, etc...but never anything ... weird.
So this year ... I'm going as ...
(drumroll, please)
a dead ballerina.

I know, I know.
But dude, my tutu is BAD A.
(I PROMISE I'll take a picture when my camera battery isn't dead).
As far as how to make one -- I did mine similarly to this:

I figured a video was better than trying to describe it.
AND sewing tulle is a BEAST so the non-sew option is AWESOME.
Anyone can do this. Seriously. ANYONE.
I did mine with 4 colors: black, turquoise, hot pink, and black with purple metallic spiderwebs.
And then I have spiderweb tights, some gorgeous heels, I made a headband for the occasion, and even "invested" in a leotard.

As far as makeup, MAC has been doing this awesome series of Halloween themed makeovers.
I think my zombie makeup will become something like this -- what do we think?

I'm SOOOO excited.


In other news, last week seems like it was craptastic for just about everyone. And in one day I managed to cry, break my purse AND my dvd player, and get sick in a giant fell swoop (and that wasn't even all of it). now that I've repaired/replaced at least some of that ... I feel like it can only go up from here. BUT. We all need a little humor. So I leave you with something that keeps making me laugh, no matter how many times I watch it.

Hope you all have a great Monday.
xoxo.

this isn't about dinosaurs...

dave disclaimer: it's about hair stuff. you don't have to read.

Okay so the gorgeous Nicole Hill (whose blog I read all. the. time.) had an amazing giveaway. It involved this really cool new shop, Old Soul New Heart, which has the most amazing line of headbands.
{And it's a mom/daughter team!! Go family!}

Well, I WON.
Seriously, I win very few things -- but apparently if it involves hair...I'm good to go.
I'm STOKED about this.
This headband is gorgeous.
And Shea, the designer knows one of my favorite people, Noelle (she's rad).
This further proves to me that this shop is FABULOUS.

p.s. Nicole, if you read this...Thanks again!! And I emailed you at the email on your sidebar.

from 10,000 lightning bugs...

my brain is broken.
so you're getting a post severely lacking punctuation, capitalization, and (potentially) grammar.
be warned.
be very warned.


spencer's butte via wikipedia.

i hiked (if you can call it that) this beast today. early early in the morning. which is totally eugene. apparently all part of the movement to make me into a hippie (eek). and while it kind of kicked my rear ... it was awesome. and you really can see like the entire valley. and i love oregon. it has SO many trees. mmmmm. makes my heart happy.

i remembered today that i love bagels. i love them. their warm warm warm cream cheese covered goodness. mmm. (and i pounded that beast.)

in said bakery... i realized how much i missed the east coast. i'm a little home sick. i think it was the challah bread -- or the notices posted about rosh hashanah. sigh.

i'm still crazy because i had a near panic attack when i thought i couldn't see my car in the parking lot. it was there. there was just a bush in the way.

asthma is a wench.

i solidly got in two carmen sandiego references today.
i also had enough excedrin inside me to kill a small horse.

i'm watching the interpreter with bonnie. i'm still not sure if i like it or not (3/4 of the way in). i'm leaning toward not. plus i made her tell me what was going to happen because sometimes i like to have my movies ruined so that i can know if i can keep hating it or if i might have a chance of liking it in the end. i should have known i wouldn't when i heard the words "sean penn" [genius actor, just not my cup of tea]. (15 minutes later: still hate it.) (it's over. yep. not in my fav 5. not even in my fav 50.)

i missed summer, apparently. i'm still pale. i'm still unadequately vacationed and pool-ed. sigh.
and on that note, whoever said being a grown up was awesome-- LIED. all kinds of LIES. growing up is the fun part. being in this realm is dumb.

i'm hungry but not hungry. i hate that feeling.

i'm like 10000000000 degrees right now. even in basketball shorts. (i LOVE basketball shorts.)

i've had the same 3 songs stuck in my head on repeat for the past like 12 days. or 5 days. you pick.

i kicked butt in fantasy football this week. aw yeah. and i'm just a tiny bit proud of myself being in a league with guys all completely obsessed with sports -- all of whom should KICK MY BUTT.

my hair is so smooth. i keep touching it. mmmmmmmmm.

my life is crazy. i keep trying to figure it out. because it's never simple, or without strange occurrences, i'm trying to figure out what to do with it while staying true to myself. but crazy is not bad. not bad at all.

the patriots won yesterday. i did a happy dance.
i love fall. i want fall weather. i love fall fashion, and football, and foliage. and baseball.

i miss my mom.


i actually really miss byu. provo. cafe rio. megan. lyndsishae. all my other wonderful, amazing friends down there.

i need a nap.

xoxo.


p.s. kanye west. you're still an idiot.

one wacky wednesday

When was younger I had a book called "Wacky Wednesday."


The premise is that everything goes strange that Wednesday.
There are mice chasing cats, shoes hanging on the wall, people are missing arms and legs and words are misspelled.
TODAY HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR ME.
As a result... we get an itemized list of things I currently love:

When my friends ... photograph other friends.

photo via matt clayton photography

I grew up with these boys. Yeah, I know, LUCK-KEEEEE.
And, honestly, they really do look like that in real life.
I met Matt through another friend.
He takes the most AMAZING pictures.
Thus = love ♥.
P.S. The oldest looks JUST like Daniel Craig in real life and he's on the u.s. bobsled team.
(click on the links. you'll be glad you did.)


Okay. My little brother sent this to me and it makes me laugh SO hard. Just bear with the video until you reach the couple in the car. This company's commercials -- hysterical.


Great moments in culture .... in stick figure form?
Yes, please.
Find more here.


The starfish on the bottom of my Gmail theme when it hits around midnight.
I think they're SO cute.
I even avoid hitting the refresh button if they're at the bottom of the page.
Wow, neurotic.


I left my bike in Provo (too much other stuff to fit in the truck).
Now I want a new one.
I am IN LOVE with this cute little cruiser!

And were the bike thing not to work out:

I would LOVE a Vespa.
They're so cute.


I'm mad for plaid.
I have been forever.
And I'm head over heels for this coat. I want a plaid one so bad.

And Gilmore Girls episodes with Tristan.
I love him.
He's such a snot. Which is probably why I love him. And he's SO witty.

Seriously, Chad Michael Murray...hahaha.
Plus we have inside jokes about him. So i pretty much crack up as soon as he appears on screen.

morning that lasts all afternoon...

So last night there were some tears (not my own). Some extreme arguments (again, not my own). And a long drive to release some tension ...all equaling out to an exhausting evening and very little sleep (that's all me). So in leiu of a pretty worded post, or a rant, or another Taylor Swift YouTube video (click on it, it's hysterical). I'll share with you some of my favorite pretty things ... and some of my favorite funny things.

this is honestly how i feel at least once a day.

as a child of the ocean...i love this.
i would do it everyday.
now to find some seashells...and barrettes.

{sigh.}
what a cute man.
p.s. who has a portable inkjet in their car?! i want one.

i really love this.
i could stare at it all day.
i kinda want a blown up one for just above my bed.

or i want something like this above my bed.
one day.
when i'm married.
and own the place i'm living.

i have this exact comic taped to my sun-visor in my car.
helps me cope. haha.

little secret: i always have a book in my purse.
except on a date.
usually.

he's hysterical.
i need to do stuff like this.

i've told you i love my lolcats.
i think this is hilarious.
i laugh every time.
and...squirrels are evil. totally the animals with a mafia.

how true is this?! it makes me laugh a lot. honestly, the guy that ignores me is usually the one i try to get to pay attention. and vice versa. the guys i ignore always find me fascinating.

i think of this every time i do laundry.
and laugh.

this is called the words of encouragement project.
there are about 250 of them.
and all of them were sent in by people about others in their lives--i think it's a genius idea.

last season loubies.
soooooo hardcore.
i would love these with a rockin dark denim pencil skirt.

more last season loubies.
fabbbbbuloso.
i seriously want these.
i'd wear them all the time. even to bed.

i hope you enjoyed my scatterbrained post.
i promise, when i have coherent thoughts again, and more sleep, i'll write something better.
p.s. it's gonna be like 90 degrees here again...bah. poorly played, eugene. poorly played.

pictures via:
ffffound
lelove
booooooom
flickr